County recycles Christmas trees

After the Christmas turkey’s eaten and the gifts are all unwrapped, residents of Santa Rosa County can opt to recycle their Christmas trees.

The county’s waste haulers, Waste Pro, Waste Management and Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, will all be picking up trees curbside to be transported to the Central Landfill, but the county is also offering five locations to drop them off for “repurposing.”

These trees will be chipped into mulch that will then be distributed through Keep Santa Rosa Beautiful.

Executive Director Kevin Smith said this is a better way to get rid of the trees post-holiday.

“It keeps the trees out of the landfill, and it keeps the trees off the side of the road,” he said. “The residents can even come and get the chips for free.”